CCGL9065: Our Response to Climate Change: HK2100

Space War, 1% of 1%, and Mars Colonization

Dr. Hongshan Guo and Class

1: Introduction to the Modern Space Race

  • Renewed interest in space:
    • New players: Private companies, billionaires
    • Goals: Mars colonization, space tourism
  • Dual narrative:
    • Progress vs. escapism concerns

Space Race

2: Historical Context - The Original Space Race

  • US vs. USSR competition:
    • Sputnik launch (1957)
    • Moon landing (1969)
  • Symbolized:
    • National pride
    • Technological superiority

Checkout a Collage Mockup on Sputnik Crisis

3: Historical vs. Modern Space Race

  • Then: Government-led
    • Apollo program budget: ~$25.4 billion (~$150 billion in today’s dollars)
    • Eugene Cernan was the last person to walk on the moon moon in 1972.
    • Communication, medical and technological advancements
    • ‘thaw’ in cold war led to cooperation between two nations
  • Now: Private sector involvement
    • SpaceX valuation: Over $100 billion as of 2021
    • Competitors catching up but not fast enough

4: The Billionaire’s Space Race

  • Elon Musk’s SpaceX:
    • Goal: Mars colonization
    • Anecdote: Launched a Tesla into space (2018)
  • Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin:
    • Focus: Space tourism
    • Quote: “We need to move heavy industry into space.”
  • Now out: Virgin Galactic (Virgin Orbit)

5: Environmental Impact - Spacecraft Emissions

  • Rocket emissions:
    • Can release 300 tons of CO2 per launch
    • Does not get publicized on how this can be reduced as space explorations goes full commercial as tourism
  • Comparison:
    • A single space shuttle launch = ~23 hours of 747 air travel emissions

6: Costs of Space Exploration

  • Financials:
    • NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover mission cost: ~$2.7 billion
  • Debate:
    • Allocation towards terrestrial vs. space issues

6.1 Space Tourism Going Private

  • Space X:
    • Drastically reduced cost of space launch with Falcon rockets
    • Avg. cost per launch now around $62 million (contrast to $100 to $500 million prior to Falcon)
  • Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic
    • Suborbital space tourism
    • Ticket around $250,000 per passenger

7: Unintended Benefits of Space Exploration

  • Technological spinoffs:
    • GPS technology, initially for military/naval use
    • Memory foam, developed for aircraft cushions
  • Anecdote:
    • Camera phones using tech developed for space imaging

8: The Debate on Extraterrestrial Life

  • Search efforts:
    • Mars rovers searching for microbial life signs
  • Philosophical implication:
    • “Are we alone?” A question driving human curiosity

9: Ethical Considerations of Space Colonization

  • Terraforming Mars:
    • Ethical debate on transforming another planet
  • Protecting potential life:
    • Planetary protection protocols to avoid contamination

10: The “Escape Plan” Mentality

  • Critique:
    • Viewing space as an “escape” from Earth’s issues
  • Anecdote:
    • Stephen Hawking’s warning about Earth’s fragility and the need for an alternative
  • Interesting Pop Culture/Sci-Fi Reference: The Wandering Earth Possible Space Colony?

11: Space Exploration and Global Power Dynamics

  • New “Cold War”:
    • Space as a geopolitical arena
      • U.S. Space Force (2019)
      • China’s Chang’e Program (2020)
      • UAE’s Hope Probe (2021)
    • Nations showcasing technological prowess.
  • International Competition:
    • Moon and Mars missions by various countries.
    • Satellite launches for national security and communication.
  • Limitation of existing treaty: Outer Space Treaty (1967)
  • Anti-Satellite Tests: U.S. Russia, China, India

12: Public Perception and Oversight

  • Public Engagement:
    • Growing interest in space tourism.
    • Debates on the ethical implications of colonization.
  • Oversight Concerns:
    • Calls for transparent governance of space activities.
    • Concerns over weaponization and space debris management.

13: Sustainability in Space Exploration

  • Green Propulsion:
    • Development of eco-friendly rocket fuels.
    • Reduction in launch emissions.
  • Space Debris Mitigation:
    • Initiatives for debris tracking and removal.
    • International agreements on responsible space activities.

14: Future Visions - Where Are We Heading?

  • Mars Colonization:
    • Plans for sustainable habitats on Mars.
    • Research on closed-loop life support systems.
  • Asteroid Mining:
    • Potential for extracting valuable minerals.
    • Ethical and legal considerations of exploiting extraterrestrial resources.

15: Reflecting on Our Place in the Universe

  • Cosmic Perspective:
    • The “Overview Effect”: Astronauts’ profound experience of seeing Earth from space.
    • Realizing Earth’s uniqueness and vulnerability.
  • Stewardship and Exploration:
    • Balancing the drive to explore with the responsibility to protect our home planet and its ecosystems.

16: The Growing Problem of Space Debris

  • Space Junk Stats:
    • Over 500,000 pieces of debris tracked in orbit.
    • Threats to satellites and the International Space Station (ISS).
  • Collision Risks:
    • High-speed impacts with even small debris can cause significant damage.
    • Notable incidents: Damage to space shuttles, satellite collisions.

17: The Challenges of Space Waste Management

  • Limited Cleanup Solutions:
    • Emerging technologies for debris removal still in infancy.
    • Challenges in cost-effective and scalable solutions.
  • Global Efforts:
    • Need for international cooperation on space waste management.
    • Potential for collaborative clean-up missions and debris mitigation protocols.

Not without tweaking DNA

18: Mars Colonization and Environmental Ethics

  • Terraforming Ethics:
    • Debate on the moral right to alter another planet’s environment.
    • Potential impact on undiscovered Martian ecosystems.
  • Precautionary Measures:
    • Importance of stringent planetary protection measures.
    • Ensuring Mars exploration does not harm potential life or the Martian environment.

19: Cosmic Perspective on Environmental Stewardship

  • Learning from Space:
    • Space missions highlighting Earth’s finite resources and delicate ecosystems.
    • Insights into climate processes and environmental protection.
  • Ethical Exploration:
    • Advocating for responsible and ethical conduct in all space endeavors.
    • Ensuring space exploration benefits humanity without compromising Earth’s ecological balance.

20. Change of Plan with role-finding this week

Experts/Influencers on:

  • Space Exploration Advocacy versus
  • Vowing to pause space exploration for more important issues like climate change

General Public as:

  1. Educators and academics from STEM
  2. Policy makers and government officials
  3. Business leaders and entrepreneurs in energy sector
  4. Social scientists and ethicists
  5. Tech industry professionals
  6. Self-defined (Pick as you wish)

21. Wrapping up CCGL9065

  • Foster critical thinking
  • We have one topic
    • Step 1: From which we picked two different sides
    • Step 2: From each sides there are a multitude of angles of expression
      • What left a mark on your perception?
      • And how can you influence other people with these experience?

Practical Question: Essay-Writing Clarification

  • YOUR response to climate change with HK 2100 in mind
  • “story” not to be confused with “fiction”
    • story-telling \(≠\) story-creation
  • Objective: Write a reflective essay (750 words max) that uses a narrative to propose a realistic climate change solution.
  • Grading criteria:
    • address the task aka provide an individual response in writing
    • show engagement of your topic w/ overarching climate change theme
    • present clear, logical argument from various perspectives, including counter-evidence if any
    • coherent structure with clear call of action and conclusion, proper paragraphing, minimal language errors
  • Final Note: The essay and visual should not only reflect academic insights but also aim to inspire broader awareness and action on climate change.